Often providing a discreet, comforting ear for clients to unload, there’s no wonder we refer to our stylists as ‘the nation’s untrained therapists‘.
Whilst a grooming service may be the primary draw for most of our clients, we cannot underestimate the power of the emotional, personal connection that is created as a result. I am fascinated by the role salons play in society; whether you’re a state-of-the-art salon in the city centre, a modest salon in a small village or even a mobile hairdresser, the relationships we foster with our clients are truly invaluable.
For most stylists, engaging in small talk comes easy – How are the kids? Going anywhere nice this summer? Is your boss still a nightmare? However, it’s the more difficult conversation topics (the ones we advise our apprentices to avoid), that we most often find ourselves in. As soon as the client sits in the chair, the personal confessions begin to pour out.
Why is that?
According to research, the close contact and touching of the head releases the hormone oxytocin, creating a sense of closeness and ease. For many, talking in confidence – without judgement – not only provides light relief, but can have significant mental health benefits too.
Of course, we are honoured to be the confidants our clients need, but we often feel unqualified and unable to offer anything other than a comforting ear. In order to combat these moments of speechlessness, here are three important initiatives you can sensitively suggest to your clients. The following deal with bereavement, bullying and suicide –conversation topics often brought up by clients at the salon.
The Lions Barber Collective
This inspirational collective serves to raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. In 2014, Devon-based barber Tom Chapman lost a close friend to suicide. Affecting his own wellbeing hugely, Tom questioned why his friend had suffered anonymously and refrained from reaching out.
In turn, Tom began to reflect upon all of the close bonds he had forged with his own clients over the years, how many had opened up with their innermost worries.
Since then, the collective has grown exponentially, with hundreds of barbers across the country now trained via the ‘Barber Talk’ programme. The course is in place to equip stylists with the necessary skills to recognise the signs of mental health struggle, giving them the ability to point clients in the right direction for support.
The Collective Pride Awards on 3rd April 2023, will recognise and reward industry professionals who go beyond the call of duty to help troubled clients. I will be there to support this great initiative; I hope you will be too.
WWW.THELIONSBARBERCOLLECTIVE.COM
“I have had to deal with the effects of bullying first-hand throughout my formative years as well as in the workplace, and these experiences have had deeply negative impacts on my life – I now realise the importance of opening up, reaching out and seeking support.”
Project Eileen
Project Eileen is a registered charity founded to help young people deal with bereavement and grief. Losing my father as a young child had a huge, lasting impact on how my siblings and I processed our emotions and dealt with bereavement. In my father’s memory, I was honoured to become a patron for this amazing charity.
In October 2022, I championed a project initiative named ‘Hair Raising’. The scheme saw hairdressing salons and barbershops raise awareness and encourage fundraising for Project Eileen, with their clients donating and sharing activity across social media. The event will reappear this year, and we are inviting all stylists and barbers to get involved.
Writing this feature has been a very cathartic process; it has encouraged me to revisit some of my own experiences, as well as reflect on many of the heart-breaking conversations I have had with clients battling through their own difficult journeys.
I have found that meditation and breathing exercises are great tools to help my own wellbeing, both physically and mentally. The healthier I am inside and out, the higher my work-based performance and the happier I can become.
As we learn more about the importance of mental health, it is crucial to acknowledge our own feelings as hairdressers, and how sometimes we carry the burdens and anxieties of our clients on top of our own. This feature aims to spotlight the role of hairdressers within society, celebrating the goodness, care and compassion that we generate each and every day. Dear reader, I hope this can provide you with some comfort and reassurance – we are all in this together.
